ANDREA BORCHARDT

Character Artist & 3ds Max-oholic



Objective

As a game project leader by day and a character modeling lackey by night, I'd like to find an awesome studio where I can devote my undivided creative attention to making the best games on the planet... before I devastate the world's supply of coffee beans.


Things I do to pay the bills

Character Artist (Contract) • Callan Digital Studios, LLC • Tampa, FL • October 2009 - Current

Summary

With an elite team of 4 artists, I create character and prop models for CG television shows... and whatever else pops up.

Projects

  • Pre-pilot episode of a new kids' television show about cartoon household appliances based on a longstanding toy line
  • Pre-pilot episode of a new kids' television show starring excessively cute babies based on a successful toy franchise
  • Flash/Papervision 3d rotating Christmas web greeting card with a rock n' roll snowman [Link]

Duties

  • Model humanoid character heads based on 3d scans of toy figures
  • Construct character and prop models based on popular children's toys via reference photos
  • Create and animate low polygon characters for 3d web scenes in Flash/Papervision 3d
  • Paint high resolution textures to be used in CG renders

Lead Game Designer and Artist • Webfoot Technologies, Inc. • Lemont, IL • February 2007 - Current

Summary

Working with a small outsourced team, I oversee the design of Nintendo DS games and also get to make art for them.

Projects

  • A collection of word puzzles bundled up in one game under a popular educational license (DS, in development)

Previous projects credited as game artist only:

  • Cubix Mania (PC, Mac) – Casual block busting puzzle game [Link]
  • Alien Invasion (PC, Mac) – Classic alien blasting action [Link]
  • American Girl: Kit Mystery Challenge (DS) – Girls' mystery adventure game based on the movie and books [Link] [Link]

Duties

  • Set artistic direction and style for child-oriented DS game projects
  • Create characters, props, and environments for a 3d engine or 2d pre-rendered sprites on the DS
  • Create textures for characters and environments in a 3d engine or for pre-rendered material
  • Rig and animate characters for a 3d engine or 2d pre-rendered sprites on the DS
  • Design graphical user interfaces that compliment both screens of the DS
  • Write and illustrate game design documents for promotional and technical purposes
  • Manage an outsourced development team to make sure everyone around the globe is on the same page

My arsenal

  • Autodesk 3ds Max
  • Autodesk Mudbox
  • Autodesk Maya
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Premiere
  • Pixologic ZBrush
  • Allegorithmic MaPZone
  • Tortoise SVN
  • Crazy Bump
  • Bag of Starbucks
  • Coffee maker

That education thing

The Illinois Institute of Art - Schaumburg • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Art & Design • September 2003 - December 2006


Things I do when I'm not playing video games

  • Cartooning
  • Studying Japanese language and culture
  • Promoting love of games in online groups
  • Making even more characters in 3ds Max and ZBrush because I just can't get enough of 'em